More

Cowboys DE Robert Quinn talks about his suspension, reaction to failed drug test

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn (58) talks with a member of Cowboys security during an afternoon practice at training camp in Oxnard, California on Monday, August 12, 2019. Quinn was back at practice today after surgery on his injured hand. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

OXNARD, Calif. -- Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn was brief in his remarks Tuesday afternoon. Quinn is a quiet man, who lets his play speak more than anything else. The only time Quinn has made noise away from the field, he was on it, when he raised a fist during the national anthem while playing for the Dolphins. Quinn raised a fist to protest police brutality and other social ills against poor people.

Quinn hasn't said if he'll raise a fist as a member of the Cowboys, but that all seems behind everybody after what's transpired in the last week.

Quinn fractured his left hand and was suspended two games for violations of the NFL performance enhancing drug policy.

An April 2 drug test revealed Quinn had small traces of a substance called probenecid. It's considered a masking agent for steroids under the NFL steroid policy. Probenecid is also used to treat gout.

Quinn appealed the ruling and an arbitrator went against him.

"The experts, everybody stated what they had to say," Quinn said of the hearing. "The data proves itself, and at this point it ain't going to change nothing. What's going to happen is going to happen. I look forward to what I can do."

Quinn received the news of his suspension on the same day he was flying to Dallas to undergo surgery on his left hand. Before the suspension, Quinn was expected back for the start of the regular season, but now he's out until Sept. 16. He will forfeit $941,176 of his $6 million base salary because of the suspension.

"This is just life, this is nothing," he said. "I've been through a lot worse, messed up hand and a couple of games this is just life. You deal with adversity, it makes you weaker or stronger. That's just how a person deals with it."

The Cowboys were counting on Quinn to start at right defensive end and bolster a pass rush that already has DeMarcus Lawrence on the left side of the line.

Now with Quinn out, the Cowboys are hopeful Dorance Armstrong or Taco Charlton can replace him and become productive players.

mobile-only dfpPosition1

Quinn can only watch as he recovers from his surgery.

"I don't know, it shouldn't be that long," Quinn said. "It's still kinda early. I think they're being a little over protective. It shouldn't be too long."

Tuesday afternoon Quinn answered questions in the same soft but firm voice as always.

But you could tell he was not happy with the label of failing a random test he believes should be registered as a false-positive.

"I've been practicing all OTAs and training camp up to this point," he said. "Frustrating situation. We did what we had to do to defend me, and it is what it is."

Calvin Watkins. This is my 10th year covering the Dallas Cowboys. This is special for me because I've never reached the 10th year in anything, other than living. So I guess that's something to be proud of.